Black Caviar statue unveiled, super mare in foal

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Updated 1150 GMT (1950 HKT) October 24, 2013

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Photos:Black Caviar statue unveiled

Bronze Caviar – Champion racehorse Black Caviar has been immortalized in bronze in its hometown of Nagambie in the Australian state of Victoria. The mare retired following a stellar racing career in which it won all 25 of its races.

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Photos:Black Caviar statue unveiled

Famous rump – The sculpture, by artist Mitch Mitchell, is lifesize, right down to the horses famous rump.

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Photos:Black Caviar statue unveiled

Crowd pleaser – Black Caviar's exploits on the racetrack earned it a legion of loyal fans in Australia, many of whom turned up for the unveiling.

Lucky Luke – Nolen stands alongside the sculpture of the horse which he rode to 22 of her 25 victories.

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Story highlights

A bronze sculpture of Black Caviar has been unveiled in its hometown

The Australian racehorse won all 25 of its races

It was also announced on Thursday that the super mare is in foal

The sire is stallion Exceed and Excel

After an unbeaten career and a Vogue cover, Australia's most celebrated horse now has a bronze statue in her honor.

The statue of Black Caviar, which retired with a perfect 25-0 career record, was unveiled in the animal's birthplace of Nagambie in the state of Victoria as it emerged the horse is set to deliver a living legacy of its own -- the super mare is in foal.

A crowd bedecked in Black Caviar's signature salmon pink and black polka dot silks turned out to catch a glimpse of the life-size tribute, which is the work of sculptor Mitch Mitchell.

And excitement among her throngs of fans grew as word spread that Australia's foremost equine superstar -- after two visits to stallion Exceed and Excel -- is expecting.

"We are all proud Australians we are all proud Victorian this is a great day for Australia," breeder Rick Jamieson told The Telegraph.

Photos:Australian super horse Black Caviar retires

Photos:Australian super horse Black Caviar retires

Goodbye leading lady – As Britain laid its Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher to rest, on the other side of the world, Australians were mourning the departure of a different leading lady -- champion race horse Black Caviar.

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Photos:Australian super horse Black Caviar retires

Unbeatable mare – The six-year-old thoroughbred retired after an undefeated 25-win career. "She really gave her all and we thought what else can we achieve? She's been a great shining light for racing," said trainer Peter Moody (pictured).

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Photos:Australian super horse Black Caviar retires

Quarter century – The world's top-rated race horse, worth almost $8 million in prize money, bowed out after claiming her 25th victory at Sydney's TJ Stakes Day on Saturday.

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Photos:Australian super horse Black Caviar retires

Nation's darling – After her nailbiting win at Royal Ascot last year, Black Caviar took an eight-month break from racing. But the unbeatable horse didn't disappoint when she made a triumphant return to Melbourne's Flemington Race Course in February, securing her 23rd consecutive win.

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Photos:Australian super horse Black Caviar retires

Royal reception – Black Caviar's only overseas trip during her four-year career was to Britain's Royal Ascot, where it was later revealed she had been suffering from a leg injury. "She was courageous the way she won at Ascot," co-owner Colin Madden said. "It was at the end of a very long run of competitions -- she'd had five races that year and a trip to the UK."

Aussie Army – Thousands of fans turned out to Ascot's Diamond Jubilee Stakes to cheer on the "Wonder from Down Under."

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Photos:Australian super horse Black Caviar retires

Celebrity sprinter – Black Caviar appears on the December issue of Vogue Australia. It was the first time in the 53-year history of the magazine that a horse has featured on the front.

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Photos:Australian super horse Black Caviar retires

Future Frankel? – Beyond the track, Black Caviar may also have a profitable career as a breeding mare, with co-owner Madden hinting that champion British thoroughbred Frankel (pictured) could make a good match.

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Photos:Australian super horse Black Caviar retires

Phar lap's successor? – Comparisons have been drawn between Black Caviar and champion Australian race horse Phar Lap, who rose to fame during the Great Depression. Phar Lap's body is now housed in the Melbourne Museum.

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Photos:Vogue's most controversial cover model?

Photos:Vogue's most controversial cover model?

In Vogue – Champion thoroughbred Black Caviar appears on the December issue of Vogue Australia. It is the first time in the 53-year history of the magazine that a horse has featured on the front cover.

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Photos:Vogue's most controversial cover model?

Black beauty – The $7 million horse was photographed by Australian Benny Horne in a secret location in the Dandenong Ranges, just outside of Melbourne.

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Photos:Vogue's most controversial cover model?

A magnificent mare – "Her coat is this extraordinary pitch black, almost like velvet, with this handsomely structured face and that awesome rump that propels her so fast," Vogue Australia editor Edwina McCann said.

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Photos:Vogue's most controversial cover model?

World's greatest horse? – Since demolishing the field in her first win in the 2009 Danehill Stakes, an air of mystique has followed the sprinter, who now boasts more than 22,000 Twitter followers.

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Photos:Vogue's most controversial cover model?

Royal reception – Black Caviar secured her record 22 consecutive win at Royal Ascot in July. Despite a leg injury she took the prestigious Diamond Jubilee Stakes in a nailbiting finish against France's Moonlight Cloud.

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Photos:Vogue's most controversial cover model?

Aussie invasion – Australians have taken the mare to their hearts, with diehard fans even traveling to Britain's Royal Ascot to watch her compete.

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Photos:Vogue's most controversial cover model?

Brand caviar – Black Caviar's owners have created a distinctive brand around the champion thoroughbred. Everything from her name to the color of her silks has been carefully aligned with "sophistication and style."

Pregnant pause – The magazine has tended to stay away from controversial models. One of its more unusual front covers was of pregnant Australian model Miranda Kerr, wife of Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom, in January 2011.

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Photos:Vogue's most controversial cover model?

Princess exclusive – The world-renowned fashion magazine featured Princess Mary of Denmark on its cover in December 2004. The Australian met husband Prince Frederik during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The super mare wasn't just a powerhouse on the track -- she was a treasured personality who appeared on the cover of Vogue, launched a best-selling biography and was named Sportswoman of the Year by Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

The retirement of the world's top-rated racehorse led news bulletins in Australia, with former Australian p

Prime Minister Gillard tweeting: "We've never seen anything like Black Caviar before and may never again. She has an incredible legacy."

Since demolishing the field in her first major win at the Danehill Stakes in 2009, interest in Black Caviar has grown expotentially.

The wonder mare, who even has her own Twitter handle, has not just won all 25 of her races -- with the exception of Britain's Royal Ascot she has won them by staggering margins -- destroying world-class fields to become one of the world's top-rated race horses.

Her unblemished record is the second highest of all time, trailing behind only Hungarian horse Kincsem, which apparently took 54 races in the late 1800s.